SHAKESPEARE might well be celebrating his birthday next month with a dry Martini - shaken not stirred - as Bond Meets the Bard.

The talk with stage and screen actors Alan Cumming, computer geek Boris in GoldenEye, and Julian Glover, from For Your Eyes Only, is one of four events being hosted in a marquee in the Centenary Gardens, Southern Lane, Stratford, on April 27 as part of Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations.

The Royal Shakespeare Company events also include actress Juliet Stevenson talking about her career in Shakespeare and Me, RSC actresses Penny Downie and Alexandra Gilbreath in Getting Intimate With Strangers and Table Talk with director Conall Morrison.

Bond Meets the Bard will look at what the iconic James Bond movies have in common with recent RSC productions. * Tickets for the talks cost £10 each from 0844 800 1114.